Last Friday, class of 2016 DePaul Catholic (Wayne, N.J.) standouts
Kareem Walker and Hasise Dubois took an unofficial visit to Rutgers and left
campus with verbal offers. In 2012, Walker – a 6-0, 193-pound running back – played in six
varsity games as freshman. While Dubois – a 6-3, 190-pound receiver – also logged
significant snaps at the varsity level. But it is what they accomplished on the
freshman football level that may be most impressive of all.

The class of 2016 Spartans defeated the highly-talented in-state
parochial freshman teams of Don Bosco Prep, Bergen Catholic, St. Joseph Regional
(Montvale) and Paramus Catholic, leading many to believe there are good things
to come for the program in the not so distant future.

With multiple potential FBS prospects on the roster, it's no
surprise that the Rutgers staff decided to get in on the action with a couple standouts,
early.

Walker broke down the scene: "Hasise and I were both sitting
in coach (Kyle) Flood's office. He was talking to us and said that we both have
full scholarships to come to Rutgers. And he said that he was looking forward to
seeing us in the future and that we're gonna be great athletes."

Walker had looked forward to this moment ever since the
Rutgers staff first expressed interest in him to DePaul head coach, John
McKenna.

"I went to Rutgers a few times and they have stopped by my
school to ask about me, too," said Walker. "They came to the school and saw I improved
on my weight and my size from the first time they saw me to now. And then when
I went up there last time, they offered me."

Walker's efforts to fill out his frame were significant in
him netting an offer from the Scarlet Knights as a rising sophomore. Walker
revealed to NJ.com just how he was able to accomplish that feat.

"I weighed 160 pounds at the beginning of last year and I
put on 30 pounds in the off-season," he said. "First, I was taking weight
gainer during the season, then I started lifting heavy and taking some kind of
protein shake after the season. And when they weighed me at Rutgers, I was 193."

Size has never been an issue for Hasise Dubois, standing 6-3
and 190 pounds. The athletic specimen is a terrific athlete with outstanding
athleticism and body control, making the extension of his Rutgers tender a
no-brainer.

"It was a good experience to get an offer," said Dubois. "I'm
really looking at Rutgers, right now. Coach Flood said I'm a good player who
plays with good effort. And they like my height and my strength, too."

According to Dubois, the Scarlet Knights being that first to
offer him and his teammate put them in prime position with the young tandem,
early on.

"Rutgers is like, as of right now, that's the school we're looking
at, right now," said Dubois, who will be playing both wide receiver and safety
as a sophomore. "It's good academically, it's a good football program and I
like the coaches, a lot."

Walker seconds that notion. But his high Rutgers interest
level has a lot to do with the school's family atmosphere and his relationship
with Rutgers assistant, Anthony Campanile, more specifically.

"I love Rutgers from all the times that I have been on
campus and didn't get offered. The Louisville game, when I went up there, it
felt like I was in a family environment. And there is a specific coach there, coach
Campanile," said Walker. "Every time we go up there, we talk a lot. He just
tells me it's a family thing. He talks to me about things outside of football
and I really like that."

Miami, West Virginia and Michigan State are just a few of
the additional schools that have already begun to recruit DePaul's class of
2016. Quayshon Alexander – a 6-3, 205-pound defensive end – and Terrell Vassel –
a 6-0, 170-pound slot receiver – are likely the next Spartans in the class to
attain FBS offers.